Chapter 34
Thirty - Four
Shaye
We split up. My mother and Kamari take the main street while Nyx, Thrane and I walk the length of the harbor.
The harbor itself is relatively untouched, but the surrounding buildings have been damaged.
A lot of citizens are holed up in their homes or are making a break for the forest. Either way, there aren't that many people on the street which is helpful.
But when we look across the expanse of the port, no Hydran ships are visible.
That's not possible. They couldn't have left that quickly. We sprinted here from the church.
"We can't just traipse around Tronovia hoping we stumble upon them," I grumble when Thrane insists we stay in the vicinity to investigate. "This is a complete waste of our time. We could be – "
"When have I ever wasted my time?" He whirls on me, hands clasped firmly behind his back. I'm too taken aback to answer. "Never. The answer is never. I don't intend to start wasting my time now."
Thrane suddenly stomps back the direction we came. I roll my eyes, shooting Nyx an annoyed glare. He raises his hands, as if to say, don't take your anger out on me.
"Where are you going?" I call over my shoulder, but my cousin doesn't break his stride.
"To ask the man who keeps watching us what he saw."
Nyx and I chase after him. "How can you be so sure he saw anything at all?" Nyx asks, spearing the hiding vendor a pointed look.
"Oh, I can spot a man withholding information." Thrane's lips curl into a smile.
"How?" I ask.
Thrane stops and squares his shoulders to mine.
"Because I am an expert at withholding information myself.
" He waves a friendly hand at the vendor crouching beneath his stand averting his gaze from us.
I'm surprised he's even out after all the explosions.
But it looks like he's attempting to salvage the seafood scattered across the ground.
"Good day, Tronovian." Thrane says with a gentleness I'm not familiar with from him.
The Tronovian crinkles his nose and busies himself with work. "Far from home, aren't you, Frost Elf?"
His greeting catches me off guard. I furrow my brow. "There is no need for unpleasantries, sir."
"And right on cue, a Frost Elf sympathizer sticking their nose where it does not belong."
Nyx takes a heavy step forward. "I suggest you watch your tone. These two might be forgiving, but I certainly am not."
Thrane pats Nyx's shoulder, having him scoot to the side. He's not at all deterred by the Tronovian's cold greeting. "As charming as you seem to be, good Tronovian, I am not interested in verbal sparring. I would like to know what you saw here over the last few nights."
The man stiffens. "Who says I saw anything?"
Thrane tilts his head to the side, curious, like a bird observing a worm wiggling in the morning grass. "The featherlight tick in your jaw. The fumbling of your fingers. The unsteady rhythm in your breathing. Shall I continue or can we make this a simple interaction and you tell me what you saw?"
I'm impressed. But Stars know I can't tell Thrane that.
The merchant rubs his hand beneath his bearded chin and scratches his index finger and thumb together. "How about some…encouragement for my tale?"
"How about – " Thrane's hand shifts into an ice dagger drawing a gasp from the man – "I permit you to keep your shifty little eyes instead?"
The man lifts hands in surrender. "No need to get testy, Frost Elf. As it would seem, I am feeling mighty generous today and will forgo my fee."
"How decent of you," Nyx rolls his eyes.
"Go on," Thrane urges with a sinister grin. "Tell us what you saw."
When Thrane doesn't shift his hand back to normal, the vendor swallows and wipes perspiration from his thinning hairline.
"Last night, I saw some peculiar folk disembark one of the Hydran ships.
I can't be sure, since they were a good distance from me, but I think they might have killed a couple dock workers.
It was late, but it seemed they didn't want anyone to be here to greet them. "
"And you didn't report this?" Nyx's mouth drops, positively bewildered.
My heartbeat quickens. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know."
"You didn't notice if they went toward Starnborough?" I growl the question, beyond frustrated by his lack of cooperation.
"Why would I watch which way they went?" He bites back. "It isn't my business!"
"How, pray tell, did you manage to go undetected by these peculiar folk?" Thrane drawls lazily, running the tip of his thumb along the panes of his iced arm.
"W-w-what do you mean?" the man stammers, eyes on Thrane's iced hand.
"An eyewitness to an odd group who might have committed a crime?" Thrane tsks. "Surely they would have dispatched of you as well to ensure silence." He tilts his head. "But they did not know you were here, did they?"
The merchant swallows and shakes his head. "When I noticed them, I ducked behind my booth and watched through a crack in the wood. I got a family. I have no business getting involved."
"Tell me, where did the ship they disembarked go?" Thrane motions around the harbor. "I do not see Hydran ships anywhere."
"The Hydran ships left this morning."
"This morning?" I spit. "That's not possible."
"It's what I saw," he hisses. "I'm here trying to help you, and you're calling me a liar."
"She's not saying that at all," Thrane huffs in frustration. "Which direction did the ships go?"
"I assume they went back to Hydra. Where else would Hydran ships go?"
"Thank you for your time." Thrane shifts his hand back to normal.
That can't be the end of his interrogation. We clearly saw Astrea and her husband and daughter at the wedding. There's no way they were both on ships headed south and at the ceremony. I open my mouth to further question the man, but I'm yanked away by Thrane. Nyx is following closely behind us.
"They were involved," I insist and Thrane bobs his head once we're out of earshot.
"I know."
"We have to do something. They couldn't have been on those ships. We need to get to our dragons and scout the southern border – "
"I agree."
"You agree?"
Thrane once again shakes his head in the affirmative. "Are you hard of hearing, Aurelia? Yes, we need to get to our dragons."
"And if we don't find them?" I ask at the same time Nyx questions, "How will the Soul Eaters escape if they're here?"
"My guess is the Hydrans only supplied a way into Tronovia," Thrane answers Nyx first. "The Soul Eaters will most likely commandeer one of these ships since everyone has left for cover." He swivels toward me. "We will find them. There's no other choice."
"And when we catch the Hydran Queen?" I pose the question with curiosity. "What do you plan to do? Take her captive and accuse her of sanctioning a Soul Eater attack? She will deny it."
"I was going to say we would ask her, but your plan to accuse sounds much better." Thrane stops when my mother and Kamari come into view.
"There's a good deal of smoke coming from the north." My mother points and sure enough, it looks like the sky itself has opened up and –
"Holy shit!" I motion to the clouds. "Is that a ball of fire?"
Everyone turns to look and Nyx slaps a hand to his mouth. "That's my mother's Transcendent ability. It's called Hellfire. There must be something wrong if she used it in the city."
"We need to help them," I insist. "Thrane, take my mother and Kamari and get to your dragons. Find the Hydrans. Nyx and I will provide back up support."
Thrane raises a brow as if he wants to argue but thinks better of it. "Fine. Be careful. I don't want to be the one to explain to your precious Harland why you didn't have more protection."
"Leave Atlas to me," I motion them toward Draakstan. "Go!"
My kin take off through the city and up the hill toward the Old Kingdom. Nyx and I head north toward Calmara.
I try not to fear the worst since I know Atlas is the one fighting in that direction, but it's nearly impossible not to. My nightmares flash in my mind. Images of him being tortured. The sound of his screams.
"Kitarni," Nyx punches my arm as we sprint up the hill. "You with me?"
"I'm here," I nod. But as we round the corner we catch sight of someone running in our direction. No, not someone. Vesper. Nyx and I stop when she spots us, her smile cruel and wicked.
"Oh, how delicious running into you of all people," she purrs. "I'm so glad I get to be the one to tell you, I killed your friend with glasses."
My heart drops to my stomach. "You're lying."
"Why would I lie?" She tosses a thumb over her shoulder in the direction she came from.
"Go see for yourself. I stabbed him in the chest." She pulls her dagger up so we can see the blood soaking it.
"Such a pity. He could have killed this worthless body with his pain magic.
How jealous I am of his abilities. What wondrous things I could accomplish being a pain inflictor.
" She paces side to side. "But he's weak and is afraid of his magic.
In the end, his kindness cost him his life. "
Nyx points one of his twin swords at her, rage and sorrow clouding his hazel gaze. "I am going to cut you up bit by bit – "
"And release me from this boring body?" Vesper sighs in boredom. "Do it. I'll just consume another soul."
I tug at Nyx's arm and whisper, "We need to get to Finn. I can heal him."
"Go," he says, brow furrowed. "She's not getting away this time."
"Nyx, I'm not leaving you."
Vesper whistles loudly and when we look up at the rooftops, we're completely surrounded by Soul Eaters. On ground level, wolf-crocodile creatures from the underworld come to stand beside Vesper.
"Oh, you won't be able to help your friend," Vesper coos like she's won. "You will be coming with me."
The Soul Eaters and beasts beeline for us.
I wait until they're close enough and put a shield around me and Nyx and with every bit of strength I have, blast it outward, knocking everyone on their asses.
Nyx cuts a few of the creatures down and injures a couple Soul Eaters so they're incapacitated.
I blast balls of light at anyone who comes close, but just as it appears we will be able to best Vesper, a tiny iron ball rolls to us.
By the time I look down, it's too late to put up a shield.
The ball explodes sending me and Nyx flying. My head slams into the side of a building and I fall to the cobblestone street. I spare a glance across the way and see Nyx lying unconscious, blood all over his body.
"Nyx," I rasp. My hand flies to my head and when I pull it back, it's coated in crimson.
"Fuck," I hiss, trying to stand to my feet.
Vesper's boot connects with my ribcage and I roll.
Two of her uninjured Soul Eaters hold me down and Vesper sits on top of my chest. My vision is blurry, but I notice when she pulls a tiny vial from her pocket. She uncorks the top.
"Like I said." She pours the contents down my throat. "You will be coming with me."
My flails fall short of heroic and the last thing I see is Vesper's triumphant smile before everything fades to black.